EmbellishPod

Covid and quarantine took a lot of things from us as a population. But it also brought us a new understanding of how community can be created, nurtured and grown. I’ll challenge that nothing can ever be a complete replacement for in human interaction, but with the technology at our fingertips we can continue to interact with people from across the world in a meaningful way. it even presents us with an opportunity to connect with like minded folks that may be more preferential to our tastes than what is available locally.

Topics Discussed:
Whiskey Tribe
It’s Bourbon Night
Bourbon Junkies

"Grave Robbers With a Degree" - Andri from Pagefire Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/grave-robbers-with-a-dregree?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to

“Pushing The Pianist Down the Stairs” - Andri from Pagefire Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/pushing-the-pianist-down-the-stairs-free-download?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to

“So Glad I Found You”
Music By The Passion HiFi
www.thepassionhifi.com

“Oh Lord”
Music By The Passion HiFi
www.thepassionhifi.com

It feels a bit disingenuous to even try and speak with any degree of authority about women in whiskey from a male perspective. The need for groups like Female Whiskey Society and Women Bourbon Society to even exist speaks to the fact that men have largely owned the marketing and educational spaces of whiskey for eons. What has traditionally been “your father’s beverage of choice” has virtually built in a masculine language.

I’ve already talked to some degree about Marianne Eaves and her innovation in the whiskey marketplace. I’ve mentioned Fawn Weaver and her instrumental work in the telling of the Nearest Green Story. Anyone would be hard pressed to find any better ambassador to this spirit. But they aren’t alone. Today’s episode is going to be about several others in this space. I’ll talk about some historical figures, some ladies that are trying to create communities for women to gather in and further their understanding of whiskey and finally some women who are actively participating in the production of the spirit. We are celebrating their achievements in a hyper-masculine marketplace. And why shouldn’t we. Women scientifically are far better suited to lead this industry. They have better palates, better organizational skills and a stronger fortitude when it comes to adversity. So today’s episode is the queens of bourbon….or maybe distillHer.

"Grave Robbers With a Degree" - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/grave-robbers-with-a-dregree?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to

“Pushing The Pianist Down the Stairs” - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/pushing-the-pianist-down-the-stairs-free-download?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to

“So Glad I Found You”
Music By The Passion HiFi
www.thepassionhifi.com

“Oh Lord”
Music By The Passion HiFi
www.thepassionhifi.com

Joining this hobby can be incredibly daunting for anyone that does not already have a tie into a mentor. It leaves you with the need to seek out some degree of guidance. Just randomly selecting a bottle off a shelf is a terrible way to explore what you want to learn. Price ranges vary greatly and if you pay attention to the news or anything online you’ll know that you aren’t really a part of the community until you start the hunt for allotted bottles. And I think that’s where it all breaks. Allotted bottles are often like unobtainium and are very expensive. It leaves someone who is new to bourbon with a search for something they might never find, and if they do find it they’ll shell out quite a few dollars without even having any remote idea of whether or not they’ll like it.

Topics Discussed:

Bourbon
Bourbon Classholes
Bourbon Hipsters

"Grave Robbers With a Degree" - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/grave-robbers-with-a-dregree?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to

“Pushing The Pianist Down the Stairs” - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/pushing-the-pianist-down-the-stairs-free-download?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to

“So Glad I Found You”
Music By The Passion HiFi
www.thepassionhifi.com

“Oh Lord”
Music By The Passion HiFi
www.thepassionhifi.com

A Master Blender is a position that Scotch and Irish Whiskey drinkers know much about. It holds a much higher esteem in their ranks than currently in the world of bourbon. If the Master Distiller is a Science Degree, then the Master Blender is a Arts degree. It relies more heavily on palette and the ability to identify complimentary flavor profiles, appropriate measures to achieve an intended result and some degree of soothsaying to understand that a particular barrel has reached it’s peak and will begin to decline in quality if left alone.

While the job function is essential in large scale bourbon operations the idea of buying already aged bourbon and blending it to create a new brand is rapidly growing in the US.

Topics and Brands Discussed:
Master Blenders
MGP
Nevada H & C Distilling (Smoke Wagon Bourbon)
Barrell Craft Spirits

"Grave Robbers With a Degree" - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/grave-robbers-with-a-dregree?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to

“Pushing The Pianist Down the Stairs” - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/pushing-the-pianist-down-the-stairs-free-download?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to

“So Glad I Found You”
Music By The Passion HiFi
www.thepassionhifi.com

“Oh Lord”
Music By The Passion HiFi
www.thepassionhifi.com

The common thread that seems to run between bourbon and cigars is one of craftsmanship, storytelling, and legacy.

Acknowledging the legacy left behind by hand rollers is the least we can do. Lectors were such an integral part of cigar culture that even the brand Montecristo takes its name from the most popular of stories that were read. Local shops that offer demonstrations of how hand rolled cigars are even made speaks to the craftsmanship of the product and the ability to articulate what makes your product unique is pervasive in the story of cigars.

Without these stories to add color to the marketplace we are left with a bland tapestry of consumer goods and no idea how to parse out which one suits your particular tastes.

Topics Discussed:
Nativo Cigars - 2:26
Lectores - 5:06
Reserve De La Guardia - 9:24


"Grave Robbers With a Degree" - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/grave-robbers-with-a-dregree?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to

“Pushing The Pianist Down the Stairs” - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/pushing-the-pianist-down-the-stairs-free-download?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to

“So Glad I Found You”
Music By The Passion HiFi
www.thepassionhifi.com

“Oh Lord”
Music By The Passion HiFi
www.thepassionhifi.com

Revival brands tend to attract a certain amount of negative attention within the deeps seeded bourbon community. It’s becoming trendy to poke fun at the stories of discovered old recipes. And if your focus is exclusively on the contents of the bottle I’d say cheers to you. But I think that misses some of the beauty of this particular spirit. It’s one steeped in tradition with rich and wonderful stories. It’s a starting point for learning about history. It’s a true enhancement to your enjoyment of a product. While the contents of the bottle reign supreme it’s hard to dismiss the impact a wonderful label, cool bottle design or great backstory has on your individual enjoyment.

Topics/Brands Discussed:
Legacy Brand Revival
Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery
Peerless Distilling Company
Old Pogue Distillery

Music Credits:
“So Glad I Found You”
Music By The Passion HiFi
www.thepassionhifi.com

“Oh Lord”
Music By The Passion HiFi
www.thepassionhifi.com

One of the most difficult things a company can do is attract a new customer. The product story they carefully craft is an intrinsic piece of their business, but what do you do once you have the story. How do you get and keep the customer. The best customers are often the most educated ones. This weeks episode is going to explore all three of these subjects. What are some unique ways brands attract new customers, how do they convert those customers to disciples and then how do they ensure the customer has the most information available to them all the time. We’ll talk about Freddie Johnson, Ambassador programs and avenues for Bourbon education.

Topics discussed:

Freddie Johnson
Makers Mark Ambassador Program
Stave and Thief
Whiskey University

“So Glad I Found You”
Music By The Passion HiFi
www.thepassionhifi.com

“Oh Lord”
Music By The Passion HiFi
www.thepassionhifi.com

In today’s episode I’ll talk about both the history and the future of minority representation within the Bourbon marketplace. First I’ll cover a brand that is forging a new path for minorities both within the Bourbon space as well as within the childhood community of the brands founders.

In the second half of the episode I’ll discuss a brand that is born out of rich tradition within the foundations of whiskey in the United States and the single driving force behind re-discovering a long forgotten family of whiskey royalty.

Topics/Brands Discussed:
Brough Brothers
Uncle Nearest
Fawn Weaver

"Grave Robbers With a Degree" - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/grave-robbers-with-a-dregree?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to

“Pushing The Pianist Down the Stairs” - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/pushing-the-pianist-down-the-stairs-free-download?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to

“So Glad I Found You”
Music By The Passion HiFi
www.thepassionhifi.com

“Oh Lord”
Music By The Passion HiFi
www.thepassionhifi.com

The bourbon world is filled with stories of Second Acts. Second Acts are often confused with redemption stories or second chances. Nothing could be further from the truth. Second Acts are all about a person or brand taking control of their narrative and writing their own future. Sometimes that future looks very different from their past.

Topics discussed:Angels Envy - Lincoln Henderson

Old Rip Van Winkle - Julian Van Winkle III

Consultant - Marianne Eaves

"Grave Robbers With a Degree" - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/grave-robbers-with-a-dregree?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to

“Pushing The Pianist Down the Stairs” - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/pushing-the-pianist-down-the-stairs-free-download?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to

“So Glad I Found You”

Music By The Passion HiFi

www.thepassionhifi.com

“Oh Lord”

Music By The Passion HiFi

www.thepassionhifi.com

If Episode 000 is the Who of the project this episode is the Why of it.

Why are product stories interesting to me?

Why is storytelling intrinsic to humanity?

"Grave Robbers With a Degree" - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/grave-robbers-with-a-dregree?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to

“Pushing The Pianist Down the Stairs” - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/pushing-the-pianist-down-the-stairs-free-download?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to

“So Glad I Found You”

Music By The Passion HiFi

www.thepassionhifi.com

“Oh Lord”

Music By The Passion HiFi

www.thepassionhifi.com